No, this will assure that all of the p(a)edophiles will be voting Labour.posted by dagnyscott at 6:50 AM on May 16, 2001

Britney's 19, yes? How can liking her possibly be construed as paedophilic?

More to the point, I'm slightly concerned at the whole celebrity endorsement thing - the Tories are fighting as dirty as they can on crime and tax and with Geri yesterday and Britney today, the Labour campaign is looking more like an awards bash than a political operation.posted by freakytrigger at 7:13 AM on May 16, 2001

Well, there are two press elections: the one fought in the broadsheets, and the one in the tabloids. (Or perhaps even three, given that the Tories are running a very Daily Mail campaign.) Hence the well-reported conversation between Alistair Campbell and Richard Desmond, in search of Posh and Becks' endorsement for Mr Tony. ("Sorry: don't you know Victoria's a Thatcherite?")

Campbell is starting to give Rasputin a run for his money.posted by holgate at 7:21 AM on May 16, 2001

According to the latest polls, Tiggs, it is more-or-less an awards bash for that particular political operation.posted by FPN at 7:21 AM on May 16, 2001

Wow...this is the first time the sound emitting from Britney's throat is actually pleasing to the ear.posted by jennak at 7:22 AM on May 16, 2001

I'm sure britney has a complete understanding of all the issues involved in the UK election too. C'mon, I'd question her capability to pull a voting lever.posted by DiplomaticImmunity at 8:43 AM on May 16, 2001

> I'm slightly concerned at the whole celebrity
> endorsement thing

Celebrity endorsement is bad -- actors and the like are not famous for being bright -- but at least she isn't running for office. That sort of thing can have muchnastierresults.

Concerning the recent trouble in the Philippines and the class division over political candidates -- deposed former president Estrada was a movie star -- one Filipino commentator on CNN said that the middle class went to school and the lower class went to the movies. Or something like that; I hope I didn't mishear him. At any rate, I doubt that is fair to the poorer people of the Philippines; plenty of people elsewhere, regardless of schooling and wealth, also vote for celebrity and its trappings (charisma, regular-guyness under the lights, and so on).posted by pracowity at 8:52 AM on May 16, 2001

What pracowity said. I mean, hello, Ronald Reagan! (or Ahnuld even, if he reconsiders and ends up running for governor of California one day)posted by lia at 9:26 AM on May 16, 2001

in Oklahoma, we tend to vote for football players.posted by tolkhan at 9:33 AM on May 16, 2001

Is there any evidence whatsoever that this kind of celebrity endorsement has any effect on the outcome of UK elections? Parties on all sides seem to place value on it, but that doesn't mean it's worth anything, of course.

Personally, I feel more patronized than impressed by Labour when they try to transparently manipulate opinion with stunts like these. It won't stop me voting for them, though and I guess that's what they're relying on.posted by normy at 9:35 AM on May 16, 2001

Britney's 19, yes? How can liking her possibly be construed as paedophilic?

The "schoolgirl" image, the combination between blatant sex object and innocent little girl...

She's not marketing to people with healthy sexuality. Maybe not pedophile in the sense of infants/very young children, but certainly a Lolita sort of thing.posted by dagnyscott at 9:59 AM on May 16, 2001

Wanting to have sex with buxom 19-year-olds seems to me the very definition of healthy (straight,male) sexuality.posted by Skot at 10:04 AM on May 16, 2001

Two words, darren: "tabloid press".
The only people going ga-ga are the editors getting handed their front page on a plate.posted by holgate at 11:07 AM on May 16, 2001

I agree with dagny, 'cept I don't believe it's Britney doing the marketing. OK, she's not that innocent. (Must admit that her reggae-meets-bubblegum song about a coke spewing is pretty much insanely catchy and creative, though. I'd tip my hat, if I had one on.) But where does this leave Bob Dole? I feel icky even typing that.posted by raysmj at 11:23 AM on May 16, 2001

And I thought this thread had something to do with a Facts of Life revival. I'm dying for redistricting to pit Largent v. Watts, but it ain't gonna happen. Go Sooners!posted by norm at 11:50 AM on May 16, 2001

Watts and Largent, actually. there's even been talk of Dave Rader running for office, so the only real qualification needed here is relationship to football.posted by tolkhan at 12:25 PM on May 16, 2001

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